Saddle



Oct. 13,1936.-

R- F'AULHABER SADDLE Filed June 19, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

'ATTORNEY.

BY Ro/m wm/babr;

. O 1936- R. w. FAULHABER- I 2,057,374

SADDLE F iled June 19, 1955 2 She etS-Shet 2 J INVENTOR.

4 F0 and 14 Fuzz/babe: BY J W W w HIZS Patented Oct. 13, 1936 PATENTOFFICE SADDLE Roland W. Faulhaber, Elyria, Ohio,

assignor to The Troxel Manufacturing Company, Elyria, Ohio, acorporation of Ohio Application June 19, 1935, Serial No. 27,312

13 Claims.

This invention relates to cycle and the like saddles, and moreparticularly to a saddle of this type provided with a built-incompartment at the rear of the saddle.

Prior saddles of this type with-which I am familiar have had anindependent container for tools and the like suspended from the saddle,but detract from the appearance of the saddle, and additionally thecontinual swinging of the container when the cycle is in motion causesan undesirable noise due to intermittent contact of the articles in thecontainer.

I have devised a saddle for cycles and the like provided with a built-incontainer at the rear of the saddle, without substantial alteration ofthe conventional saddle contour and which can be provided for relativelylittle increase in the cost.

It is a primary object of my invention, therefore, to provide a saddleof conventional contour having an article compartment incorporatedtherein.

Another object of my invention is to provide a cycle or the like saddlehaving an article compartment incorporated therein, and provided withimproved means for locking the closure portion of the container.

Another object of my invention is to provide a saddle of the above typehaving an article container incorporated therein, and wherein the handlemeans effecting locking of the closure portion of the container alsofunctions as a reflecting element.

Another object of my invention is to provide a saddle of the above typehaving anarticle container incorporated therein, which can beeconomically manufactured.

Other objects of my invention and the invention itself will becomeincreasingly apparent fro-m a consideration of the following descriptionand drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal view partially in section of a preferredembodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the embodiment of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a modification of myinvention.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, I have indicated generally at I0 a saddleseat resiliently mounted on a reach member I I and springs I2. The reachmember and springs constitute no essential part of my invention, and anysuitable means for resiliently securing the seat I0 to a cycle post orsupport may be employed.

I have illustrated the seat I0 as comprising a cover portion I3 and abase portion I4 enclosing suitable cushioning material and/or stiffeningmeans, the cover and base portions being suitably joined at theirperipheral portions. Although I have illustrated the seat ID as beingformed of leather, I contemplate that a suitably molded rubber seat maybe used.

The lateral Walls of the seat are preferably of increasing depthproceeding from the pommel with the rear wall being formed to provide a.peripheral portion I5 upwardly concave, as best illustrated in Fig. 2.The peripheral portion I5 of the rear wall of the saddle is preferablyreen forced by binding material I5, which may be of a color contrastingwith the general color of' the saddle to lend a distinctive appearancethereto.

The springs I2 are disposed a substantial distance forwardly of the rearwall of the saddle, and

a member I6 of flexible material is secured to the base or underside ofthe seat transversely thereof and adjacent the springs I2 and also tothe inner face of the lateral or side walls of the seat. The lower partof member I6 is bent to extend in a rearward direction and is secured toa peripheral portion of the side walls rearwardly of the spring I2, asindicated at IT.

A generally U-shaped and relatively stiff closure element I8 ishingingly secured to the seat adjacent the juncture of the peripheralportion I5 of the rear wall and the lower edge of the side walls, asindicated at I9, preferably by providing a binding strip of suitablematerial as indicated at for peripheral portions of the side walls andcontinuing the same to form a binding strip for the lower peripheralportions of the closure element I8, although any suitable meanshingingly securing the closure element I8 adjacent its lateralextremities to the seat may be used.

It is understood that the material of thebinding strip is sufficientlyflexible to permit this hinging action.

A binding strip may also be provided for the upper or U-shapedperipheral edge of the closure element I8.

The base portion of the compartment formed by the material I6 isextending rearwardly and secured to the lower edge of the closureelement I8, preferably by the binding strip hereinbefore described. Theclosure element I8 is also preferably of arcuate form transversely so asto give the appearance of a conventional saddle to the rear wall whenthe element I8 is in closed position.

The means for locking the closure element to form a closed articlecompartment will now be described. Secured generally centrally of therear of the saddle is a plate formed with a depending loop 22, the platebeing secured in any suitable manner, as by riveting.

A hook element 23 is manually operable to engage the loop 22 and ismounted by perforating the closure element I3 and projectingtherethrough a threaded stem 24 formed with an enlarged integral head 25disposed rearwardly of the closure element IS. The stem 24 adjacent thehead 25 may be provided with an enlarged portion spacing the head 25from the element I8 to facilitate gripping of the head.

Lock nuts 26 threadedly engage the stem 24 on either side of the hook 23and tightly grip the element 23 therebetween, whereby rotation of thehead 25 will actuate the hook element 23 to engage the loop 22 and lockthe closure element I8 in closed position.

The head 25 may comprise a reflecting element formed of colored glass orthe like and gripped by an annular flange provided on the head, addingto the safety of the cyclist and providing a convenient method ofmounting such a signaling means.

I have illustrated in Fig. 3 a modification of my invention generallysimilar to the embodiment described but wherein the hook 23 is replacedby a resilient locking element 30 secured directly to closure element18, having an end portion adapted to ride over loop 22 to lock theelement [8 with the saddle to form a closed compartment. The closureelement !8 may be opened by an outwardly directed pull on the handle.

Although I have shown and described modifications of my invention, Icontemplate that numerous and extensive departures may be made therefromwithout departing from the spirit of my invention and the scope of theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. A cycle or the like saddle comprising rear and lateral walls, aportion of the rear wall being movable hingingly outwardly and adaptedto be lockingly secured to an adjacent rear wall portion, and flexiblematerial secured to the under side of the saddle generally transverselythereof, and to the lateral walls, and adjacent the base of the hingingrear portion to form a closed compartment with the hinging portion inclosed position.

2. A saddle for cycles and the like comprising rear and side walls and aseat, a portion of the rear wall being formed arcuate upwardly, andanother portion complemental therewith forming a normally appearing rearwall portion and hingingly secured to the rear wall at laterally spacedpoints, flexible material secured to the underside of the seat, and tothe side walls, and to the said hingingly secured portion to form acompartment forwardly of the hingingly secured portion, and meansassociated With the rear wall and the hinging portion whereby they maybe lockingly secured.

3. The saddle as described in claim 2 wherein the locking meanscomprises a loop secured to the rear wall and a hook element operable bya rearwardly projecting handle secured to the hinging portion andengageable to maintain the hinging portion in closed position.

4. A saddle for cycles and the like comprising depending side and rearwalls, a substantial portion of the rear wall being hingingly movable,flexible material secured to the base of the movable rear wall portion,to the under side of the seat, and to the side walls to form acompartment with the movable rear wall portion forming a closureelement, and a handle associated with said hinging portion to lock thesame in closed position.

5. The saddle as described in claim 4 and wherein said handle projectsrearwardly from the hinging portion and comprises a colored reflectingsurface forming a signalling means.

6.'In a cycle or like saddle of the type comprising a seat portion and awall portion depending therefrom, means providing a receptacle under theseat portion, an opening in the wall portion, and a hinged door thereforgiving access to the receptacle.

7. In a cycle or like saddle of the type comprising a seat portion and aperipheral wall portion depending therefrom, means providing areceptacle under the seat portion, an opening in the wall portion, and ahinged door therefor giving access to the receptacle.

8. 1m a cycle or like saddle of the type comprising a seat portion and awall portion depending therefrom, means providing a receptacle un derthe seat portion, an opening in the wall portion, and a hinged doortherefor giving access to the receptacle, the door having a closedposition in which it constitutes part of the wall portion.

9. In a cycle or like saddle of the type comprising a seat portion and aperipheral wall portion depending therefrom, means providing apocket-form receptacle under the seat and within the depending wallportion, a part of the wall portion being hingingly supported andnormally closing the pocket mouth, and being outwardly hingingly movableto open the pocket to give access thereto.

10. A cycle or like saddle of the type comprising a seat portion and aWall portion depending therefromfmeans providing a receptacle under theseat portion, an opening in the wall portion, closure means for saidopening permitting access to the receptacle and forming a portion of thewall in closed position.

11. A cycle or like saddle of the type comprising a seat portion, a wallportion depending therefrom, means providing a receptacle under the seatportion, an opening in the wall portion, and closure means for saidopening permitting access to the receptacle, the closure means in closedposition abutting peripheral wall portions forming the opening andcomplemental therewith forming a continuous wall of normal contour.

12. A cycle or like saddle of the type comprising a seat portion, a wallportion depending therefrom, means providing a receptacle under the seatportion, an opening in the wall portion, closure means for said openingforming a portion of the wall in a closed position and with peripheralportions of the closure means and wall in abutting relation, and lockingmeans comprising interengaging elements on the closure means and walladapted to maintain the said portion of the wall and closure means inabutting relation.

13. A cycle or like saddle of the type comprising a seat portion, a wallportion depending therefrom, means providing a receptacle under the seatportion, an opening in the wall portion, and closure means for saidopening restoring the normal contour of the wall when in closed positionand movable outwardly from the wall permitting access to the receptacle.

ROLAND W. FAULHABER.

